Post originally by Shoggoth at 2003-07-28 12:37:09
Converted from Phorums BB System
Thank you for that very thoughtful, in-depth review. You obviously have a great deal of personal occult historical knowledge yourself, and it really helps with the review.
As far as the certamen question, looking through my books reveals that it was mentioned VERY briefly in the first Trad Book, given a two paragraph explanation in the 2nd Edition rulebook, and reworded (very helpfully, I think) as an ideally dice-light device for storytelling and resolution (or creation!) of tension. Ironically, the most indepth discussions of certamen that I can remember from the previous canon are in the Book of Worlds and Digital Web 2.0, where special realms and zones exist for the purpose of certamen and other such magical duelling. For WW to gloss over it in the new Tradbook saddens me, but doesn't really surprise.
As an aside, I have an interest in occult history/philosophy, but I'm not sure what to read in pursuance of it. I own the Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Agrippa, and a number of religious history texts, but I'm scanning the shelves of my nearest Barnes and Nobles leaves me wondering what percentage of it is crap, and how much useful stuff they DON'T carry. Would you mind terribly pointing me towards some good reference material? I'm mostly interested in Hermetic lore, but of course that encompasses alot.
Post originally by DrSchadenfreude at 2003-07-28 16:28:36
Converted from Phorums BB System
House Tytalus conspired with the Tremere during the Mensa, Mesaasa,--hell VAMPIRE war. Alot of them were addicted to vampire vitae. It's all in Blood Treachery-- a rather mediocre book which I picked up at the DtF $6.66 sale.
As for "with what", branding is a form of Magely discipline. Basically it puts a tag on a Mage's avatar as a warning to other mages.
Post originally by Meyer Cohen at 2003-07-29 13:41:03
Converted from Phorums BB System
I'm not the person you asked, but I'll try and provide you with some partly relative texts. You can find all of these with reviews on Amazon, I havne't read most of these, but these sound good.
Corpus Hermeticum: If I recall correctly, this was referenced on a fair amount of the old OoH openings to the chapters. Some guys at the ELN Forums ( http://www.nocturnis.net/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=4142&s=1e0504a80c059905276f98d3105085 63 ) stated the Walter Scott translation to be the best, I can't back this up, but it's 4 of 5 stars on Amazon.
Kybalion - Havne't read it, but has mostly good reviews.
Jesus Christ, Sun of God: Ancient Cosmology and Early Christian Symbolism
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage - Translated by Macregor Mathers (a founder of the Golden Dawn), this is a bit of a superstitious spellbook, from what I've read from it, detailing all the precautionary steps and rituals one must do before the use of Magic. Has a bunch of magic squares in the back, those like the SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS one which is probably most familiar.
The Key of Solomon the King - another translation by Mathers, supposedly written by Solomon for his son Roboam. This covers nearly no philosophy, but instead is just a list of instructions to be carried out by the magician. There are many magical seals in this book, almost completely in Hebrew (one or two use Latin), but I never knew that the OLD written Hebrew was written with vowels, as many of these seals use. Whatever.
Kabbalah Unveiled - Another translation by Mathers, of the Sepher Zohar. Not a direct translation, but a translation of Knorr von Rosenroth's Kabbala Denudata, this is only 3 parts of 19 of the Zohar. The Introduction isn't bad, but the original is over 2,500 pages without notes, whereas this is 341 with. Not quite comprehensive.
A True and Faithful Relation Of What
Passed For Many Years Between Dr. John Dee and Some Spirits - I hear this book is excellent, but unless you're ready to drop almost 200 USD, you're only going to get a crap quality scanned version. Even doing so might be something a bit risky, due to the possible lack of validity of the Enochian.
The Secret Teachings of All Ages : An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic, and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy - Book by Manly Palmer Hall, read the reviews, they make this sound completely awesome. Something to definitely go the extra mile and get it hardcover.
The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library: An Anthology of Ancient Writings Which Relate to Pythagoras and Pythagorean Philosophy - No description needed.
The Temple of Man: Apet of the South at Luxor - By R. A. Schwaller De Lubicz. This man definitely seems to be awesome. Here's a part of what one reviewer wrote: "While not for the faint of heart, it is required reading for any serious student of esotericism, hermeticism, sacred geometry or ancient Egypt."
I have yet to read a book (there's many I've yet to read), but the reviews make his books sound interesting. To the max. Check it.
Kabbalistic texts:
Sepher Yetzirah - Get this book with translation and commentary by Aryeh Kaplan. Very well done. Includes the main four versions of the text, and tons of commentary on what he believes to be the most valid version. It's over 300 pages, whereas the original text (at greatest) is 1,600'ish words. That's a lot of info.
Sepher Bahir - Another translation by Kaplan, undoubtedly great. I'm getting mine in the mail sometime in a couple of days, can't wait.
Kabbalah: An Introduction and Illumination for the World Today - Although it has a bit of a cheezy title (too new-agey for my liking), this book is plum full of information. Details briefly the primary Jewish and Kabbalistic texts. And despite touching on a TON of different topics, it still is able to go into a fair amount of detail on some of them, yet is under 300 pages. Good stuffs.
Sepher Rezial Hemelach: The Book of the Angel Rezial - Sounds as if there's some controversy over this text, if it's legit or not. Details Kabbalistic Astrology.
For more interesting stuff on Kabbalah, check out anything but Gershom Scholem, and Moshe Idel. No specific title needed, just grab any book of theirs.
Post originally by Kevin Walsh at 2003-07-30 05:55:38
Converted from Phorums BB System
DrSchadenfreude wrote:
-------------------------------
House Tytalus conspired with the Tremere during the Mensa, Mesaasa,--hell VAMPIRE war. Alot of them were addicted to vampire vitae. It's all in Blood Treachery-- a rather mediocre book which I picked up at the DtF $6.66 sale.
--------------------------------
I was under the impression that Blood Treachery wasn't going to be presented as part of the official continuity (an impression I garnered from the book itself), so it's pretty disappointing to discover that it is.
Post originally by Alex White at 2003-09-20 19:53:19
Converted from Phorums BB System
It depends on what kinds of occult you are interested in.
I personally find most of the 19th century stuff absolute crap.
Stick to the original stuff. The Enneads by Plotinus for example is a classic (although close to unreadable), as it essentially created the discipline of Theurgy.
There is a great book called "The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation" edited by H.D. Betz, which is a big book of spells and rites by magicians from the second and third centuries (ie, spells that people really performed, by magicians whose primary source of income was the performance of these spells).
The Sefer Zohar is the quintessential Kabbalistic text, hard to get in a complete form.
The Corpus Hermeticum is also worth getting, but like the Enneads, is mostly unreadable.
De Mysteri by Proclus (or is it Iamblichus?) is also worth trying to get a hold of, but outside of large university libraries, I doubt it's available.
For a comprehensive history of magic, I suggest the "Athlone History of Witchcraft and Magic in Europe", edited by Bengt and Ankarloo. Goes from the Biblical period to the eighteenth century, and is very scholarly (ie, not new age).
Linear Mode
